On December 1st Mormon.org will be kicking off the Christmas season with a worldwide day of service. I am happy to be participating in this campaign by photographing real families doing real service for each day until Christmas and sharing those moments on this blog. I am so excited.
One of the biggest reasons for my heart bursting about this year’s Mormon.org Christmas campaign is that it is one of action. Starting December 1st 2016, Mormon.org/Christmas will be sharing an service advent calendar with simple suggestions for each day based on the Savior’s life and teachings.
I also love that I won’t be going this alone — my kids will be coming along for the ride with me. I think I’m crazy, but tonight was our first outing to help at the Tabitha’s Way Local Food Pantry and it proved to me that I can do it and that bringing my kids with me will bring them many opportunities to serve throughout the month.
We photographed our first family tonight, Taralyn, and her family, from Keep Moving Forward With Me. I will be saving Tarlyn’s family service post for a special day in December, but if you would like to get involved with your local Food Pantry before then follow Tabitha’s Way on Facebook.
Here are a few of the shots of my kids checking labels and expiration dates.
Sorting canned goods was a good service for our families because we were in the back away from the excitement of people picking up their Turkey boxes. A few of my kids were technically too young to be helping, but since I was taking pictures we got a free pass. There are a few other ways to serve with little kids that I might look into next year, or just bring the older kids.
We have donated to the food bank before so it was great for the kids to see where it actually ends up. And good for them to see favorite items the love that had been donated. My hope is that it will encourage them to donate things they love to bring joy to someone else, not just the things they don’t want.
Be sure to follow the blog all of December for ideas and examples of ways that families, big and small, are serving this Christmas! And then join in sharing ways that you are sharing your light with the world. Be sure to use #LIGHTtheWORLD when you share your posts on social media so that others can learn from what you are doing too. I know it helps me and gives me courage when I see how others families are serving. I wouldn’t have done this sort of thing tonight without the encouragement of my friend and now I feel empowered to do it again one day.
